Picturesque Scenery—Interesting Scholars
Picturesque scenery — Interesting scholars — Responsibility — Opens a Sabbath school — The children engage in various benevolent projects — Singing introduced — “Fletcher’s Checks” — Cottage in the woods — History of its inmates.
On my way to my new field of labor, on ascending the mountain, I was struck with the beautiful prospect before me. At my feet lay the Clove, the field for my future labors. Through the center ran a beautiful creek, whose sparkling waters added much to the beauty of the surrounding scenery, while in its course its superior force swayed the operations of many a mill and factory, till at last it emptied itself into the “Wallkill” river. The Clove was three-quarters of a mile in width, and about ten miles in length. On one side rose a high mountain, covered with variegated fields, and interspersed with all kinds of forest-trees, such as the pine, cedar, and hemlock. Among these could be seen the beautiful laurel, with its dark, glossy leaves. Numerous herds of cattle could be seen grazing in the valley below. I stopped for a few moments to survey this lovely scene; and as my heart seemed to ascend “from nature up to nature’s
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God,” I felt to exclaim, “My Father made them all!”
I now descended the declivity, crossed the creek, and in a few minutes was at the door of my new field of labor. I found about thirty children quietly seated, waiting my arrival. They were all neatly clad, and their smiling faces, as I entered, quite rejoiced my heart. It was to me one of the most delightful sights that I ever beheld. As I walked to the farther end of the room I stepped into the desk, and turned to look upon this interesting group; my heart was melted, and my eyes filled with tears. The responsibility of my situation came fearfully up before me, and I was led to exclaim, “0, my God! am / sufficient for these things?” The Spirit sweetly whispered, “My grace is sufficient for thee. My strength is made perfect in weakness.” I took my Bible and read a chapter, and then bowed before the mercy-seat with these dear children, committing them, with myself, into the hands of the Almighty, earnestly imploring his blessings upon my future labors in this place.
I soon opened a Sabbath school in the place, and found many intelligent and pious persons ready to aid me. The faithful efforts of the parents were superadded to mine, in striving to improve the morals and cultivate the minds of the children. A missionary box was placed upon my desk, in which, from time to time, they dropped their pennies, refusing to spend any for candies or toys. A juvenile fragment fex)ciety was also organized. In this the parents furnished the children with materials for their work. Such was the interest which they felt in the enterprise, that they devoted their hours for recreation almost exclusively to making articles for the society, which, at the end of the year, enabled them to realize fifteen dollars, besides having made a bed-quilt for their parsonage. The money was distributed among diff’erent religious and benevolent societies. During my visit in New York I had visited several schools, where the pupils sang very sweetly. I proposed teaching my scholars to sing, but the parents did not greatly encourage it. I, however, made the attempt, and they were soon able to sing the praises of God in a very delightful manner.
About this time a Methodist preacher called to visit my school, and gave me “Fletcher’s Checks to Antinomianism” to read. I carefully perused its contents, and found the doctrines therein contained equally new and interesting. I wondered that I had never met with this work before. All my life I had been trying to believe in the doctrine of unconditional election and reprobation, but had never succeeded. I was now enabled clearly to see, that when God converted me from nature’s darkness to his marvelous light, that he also converted me from that doctrine which teaches that only an elect few are saved. It now became the burden of my prayers, that the doctrine of full and free salvation might be received and preached by all evangelical Christians.
About half a mile from my school-house I had discovered a small cottage, situated in the woods, whose inmates seemed to have scarcely the necessaries of life. Upon making inquiries, I found that it was occupied by two poor families, who subsisted by basket-making. They seemed to shrink from intercourse with their neighbors, and when any one approached their house the children would run behind the trees, and hide themselves. I had often passed their isolated dwelling, and my feelings had become deeply enlisted in their behalf. I lifted my heart in prayer to God, to know what he would have me do for this people, resolving to embrace the earliest opportunity to visit them. One pleasant day I therefore took with me a pious friend, and directed my steps toward their dwelling. When we came near the door we found it open, but could see no one. We knocked loudly for admittance, but received no answer. At last we concluded to step in, and wait till some one should appear. As we entered we were struck with the exti-eme poverty yet neatness of the place — the floor, in the center of which was an unfinished basket, of a marble whiteness. On one side of the room there was a rough table, two old chairs, and several blocks of wood used for seats. This comprised the furniture of the room. There was another room adjoining this, the door of which was partly opened. As I cast my eyes toward it I distinctly saw a female figure behind it, and found that she was engaged in looking through the crevice at her new visitants. I ventured to speak to her, when she immediately came into the room and took a seat. She had a delicate form, and a very lovely countenance. When she spoke, intelligence beamed from her eye.
She was, however, retiring in her manners, and seemed much embarrassed by our presence. Her dress, though very .clean and neatly repaired, indicated extreme poverty. I asked her if she would not like to send her children to the school, then under my charge. Her eyes filled with tears, as she said, ‘’I should be very happy to do so, but I am unable either to supply them with suitable clothing or pay for their instruction.” I asked her if she would be able to make their clothes if she had the materials. She replied, that she had long been accustomed to make all the clothing for her family. I assured her that she need have no difficulty in paying for their tuition, and offered to instruct them gratuitously.
I then made some inquiries respecting the other family that lived in the house. The children were all there, but the parents were absent. I found from her account of them that they were equally needy. I left her with a request that all the children should be sent to school without delay. From her house I went to the house of Mr. C, a wealthy gentleman who lived near, and made known to his wife the condition of these families. The
Lord opened her heart, and she immediately sent an ample supply both for the parents and children. In a few days the children came to school, with smiling faces, and very neatly clad. Their mothers also soon appeared at Church, which from this time they attended regularly, accompanied by their children.
The husbands of these afflicted women had been very intemperate; but these little attentions to their families had quite raised their spirits. In a short time they entirely renounced their intemperate habits, and, instead of selling baskets, they found employment among the farmers. Mrs. C. and others supplied the women with work, and they were soon raised from their deep distress to very comfortable circumstances. Their children did not know a letter of the alphabet when they entered the school; but so rapid was their progress, that before twelve months had expired they were all able to read, and the elder ones could write a tolerable hand. Such improvements far exceeded my most sanguine expectations.